With the figures of dengue and malaria cases increasing in the city, the health authority has been blamed for not taking adequate measures to check the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

With the figures of dengue and malaria cases increasing in the city, the health authority has been blamed for not taking adequate measures to check the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Dengue has claimed nine lives this year so far and 119 new cases have been reported. The number of malaria patients has also increased up to 526.

Residents complain that the health department is not doing enough to curb the menace. Had the department initiated fogging and other preventive measures well in time, the situation would have been different.

According to health department officials, fogging is “not good” for health and also the process is too expensive to be carried out regularly.

“Whenever a fresh case of dengue or malaria is reported, we conduct fogging in the area. But since it is an expensive measure, we cannot do it on regular basis,” said Dr Mahender Gupta, district malaria officer.

He said the mosquito breeding sources are also increasing with rapid urbanisation.

On the other hand, various residents groups are adopting all preventive measures, including fogging, to check mosquito breeding in their areas.

“The only problem is lack of systematic implementation of policies. For example, on MG Road, garbage is piled up at several places, which are the most common mosquito breeding places,” said Atul Batra, president, Heritage City Welfare Association.